Department of Energy awards ElectraTherm geothermal grant

RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) -- ElectraTherm, a leader in small-scale, distributed power generation from waste heat, was awarded Phases II and III of its Department of Energy (DOE) grant to demonstrate its Waste Heat-to-Power (WHP) technology using co-produced fluids. The government grant helps accelerate the development of ElectraTherm’s technology through a geothermal demonstration site at Florida Canyon Mine in Imlay, Nevada.

ElectraTherm was awarded Phase I of the $982,000 grant from the DOE in 2010 to research and develop an optimized solution for power generation using geothermal and co-produced fluid. Following successful R&D, the DOE awarded Phases II and III to manufacture and commission a newly developed Green Machine with a cleanable heat exchanger, an increased power output of 75kWe and a fully-containerized solution for ease of transportation and installation. The unit has been built and is currently undergoing testing at ElectraTherm. It will be installed at Florida Canyon Mine in the coming months.

“Low temperature geothermal brine is considered a nuisance in mining, and oil & gas operations today. ElectraTherm’s Green Machine can tap into those existing resources to produce fuel-free, emission-free power,” said John Fox, CEO of ElectraTherm. “In Phases II and III of the DOE opportunity, ElectraTherm will commission a Green Machine customized for geothermal applications, designed in a shipping container for optimal plug-and-play installation. An increased power output of 75kWe ensures maximum utilization of the geothermal resource available at Florida Canyon.”

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) states that there are more than 80,000 active oil & gas wells in the United States producing co-produced fluids between 176-257°F. Using co-produced water to operate Green Machines would offset pumping parasitics for the operators, increase the life of marginal well fields and decrease the carbon footprint of the field.